Mutsumi knows - Part 13. Explanations and a proposal.
My father has left me alone in my room to recuperate after my latest collapse, and to mentally digest what has just happened. So much to take in all at once! I don't know if I can.
For a few days it seemed like I was a child. I didn't feel like I was re-living my childhood. Rather, I felt like I was living it for the first time. Past and present became fused into one. Now I'm not sure what happened fifteen years ago and what happened this week. It's all very confusing. And so I settle back into my bed and close my eyes. ...
"Hello, Mu-chan. You want me to explain what happened?"
"Hello, protectress. Yes, that would help a lot."
"Mostly, it is as you have guessed. The events of the last few days have been similar to, but not identical to, events of your childhood. However, some events were not recapitulated in the right order, and some pairs of events were conflated."
"Ara, can you keep it simple please? I mean, I know what those words mean usually, but right now my head's still a bit fuzzy."
"Your first childhood promise was with Keitaro, in your climbing tree. You had a pretend wedding, with Liddo-kun as the minister, and you promised that you would do it again for real in later life. Today, just a short time ago, you re-enacted that pretend wedding. It was rather more elaborate this time around."
"But Naru ..."
"Naru wasn't present on that first occasion. She never came to Okinawa as a child. The childhood game of janken was played later, after you returned from Okinawa to Hinata. Then, you allowed Naru to win."
"But this time ..."
"This time you played exactly the same moves, and for the same reasons, but you won. Naru did not play the same moves that she played as a child."
"But ... did you have a hand ..."
"No. I did not influence Naru in any way. That would have been unfair."
"But then how ..."
"A few days ago, when you spoke to Naru about her father, you asked her to try to remember her childhood. Naru did try to remember her childhood. She remembered that as a child she almost always lost at janken. During the actual game she remembered why she almost always lost - that it was because she always played scissors. She was sure that you would remember too, and that you would try to win."
"So, she lost because she was trying to win and she thought that I was trying to win too?"
"Yes."
"And I won because I was trying to lose?"
"Yes. I see a certain amount of poetic justice in this."
"But why don't I remember winning?"
"Because your doctor was right. He did say that once you reverted your short term memory would be wiped clean, and that is what happened. You lost approximately ten seconds of memories. However, you retained the memory of the similar event in your childhood. See, doctors aren't always wrong!"
"Ara, it's still too confusing. Something still doesn't seem right. I still have the feeling that you've been manipulating events all along, to ensure that things come out right for me. Don't misunderstand, I'm grateful for your help, it's just that it doesn't seem to be fair to others. I mean, for instance, if I pass my exams because you help me with them, then I get to Tokyo U, but someone else loses out because I've taken their place."
"If I gave you help in an important exam that would indeed be unfair. But why should I do that? You have put in a tremendous amount of effort over the years, Mu-chan, gaining the skills and the knowledge that you need to pass the exam fairly. So too have Naru and Keitaro."
"But in the trawler .. with the pencil ..."
"That wasn't me. If it was me, I would have given you the correct answer first time, and stuck with it. No, that was Tama-chan. She's only a turtle, and her grasp of mathematics is imperfect, so when Naru was so certain that five was the correct answer, it was only natural that Tama-chan would have second thoughts and change her answer to five. By the way, it was Tama-chan who helped you get a perfect score in the bowling, and that was only because she knew it wasn't an important competition, and that Naru might gain something from the experience of being beaten. Tama-chan knows better than to help you in an entrance exam or other important competition."
"But ... but ..."
I know there's lots of other questions I could be asking, but I can't think of any right now.
"Still unhappy, Mu-chan?"
"Just give me a second to collect my thoughts. Oh, I know. About Mr. Narusegawa..."
"Yes, you did meet him recently. He said the same things this time that he said when you were a child, except at the end, when you surprised him."
"But, how did I surprise him?"
"That bit was my doing, I'm afraid. Even though you were re-experiencing your childhood, I allowed you to retain a small part of your adult memories. Mr. Narusegawa always wanted the chance to apologise to his family, I mean the ones still on Earth, for the way he left them. I thought it would be good to give him that chance. It does saddle you with a heavy responsibility, but I hope you won't mind."
"No, I don't mind, but there's one other thing ... when I said that I'd seen a pretty lady who looked like Naru, he said that he thought I'd seen Naru's mother."
"And he was right. First time around, when you were a child, it obviously wasn't Naru that you saw. Instead, it was Naru's mother, looking after you because she knew that you would become a good friend to Naru. Exactly as Mr. Narusegawa said."
"But Haruka ..."
"Mrs. Narusegawa could do many things, but she couldn't break your fall. It was Haruka's head which broke your fall, on that first occasion. Haruka spent quite a long time in hospital afterwards, and so she has very little memory of her trip to Okinawa even though she is rather older than you or Keitaro. However, it was Mrs. Narusegawa who accompanied you after that fall, and who stopped you from giving Keitaro a bath, and from doing various other possibly dangerous things. She had to step in, to take the place of the missing Haruka. Nobody else saw her, though, only you. Incidentally, on the most recent occasion, it was Naru who broke your fall and who then unwittingly repeated the actions that her mother had performed earlier."
So much explanation! Before, I felt like I had too many questions, but now I feel like I have too many answers! My head is starting to spin.
"Thank you, protectress, You have helped a lot. Now all I have to do is work out what to do next!"
"I think that you will know what you want to do, when the time comes. Naru and Keitaro are still overwhelmed by recent events, and they will need your help. But bear in mind, Mu-chan, that you still aren't fully recovered. For now, you should ideally give yourself the opportunity to rest and recuperate. And I'll see you later!"
"See you! And thanks again!"
And I open my eyes, and I am still alone in my room. I check the bedside clock, and note that no time has passed. Then I get up, and go looking for the others.
I find Naru in one of the guest rooms, the one with the large double bed. Ara, I hope that mother didn't really put Na-chan and Kei-kun both in the same room? I'm not sure if I want to know. Already today I've had too many answers.
She is sat on the bed, facing away from the door but I can tell from the way her shoulders are shaking that she is quietly sobbing.
"Go away!" she wails.
"But Naru, I just want to help!"
"You've done enough already! I don't know how you did it, but you tricked us into coming here, and you tricked Keitaro into that phoney wedding, and you tricked me into that game. And you won! Isn't that enough?"
"Oh, but Naru, if the game is what worries you, we can easily sort that out. It was just a silly game, and a silly promise, all done on the spur of the moment. All I have to do is say that I release you from that promise, and then you won't have to worry about it any more."
"Really? You'd do that for me?"
"Of course. We're friends, aren't we? And you did save me when I fell out of the tree, didn't you? I owe you for that."
I go to the bed and sit beside her, and I put my arm around her shoulder to comfort her.
"Yes", she says, "but ... it doesn't seem right. A promise is a promise! I know that's what you believe."
"Actually, Naru, that wasn't the only game of janken that we've played. When we were little we played another important game, and you won that one. So perhaps we can call it a one-all draw, on aggregate."
"Yes, I suppose that sounds fair."
She looks a lot happier now. She rubs her eyes, to wipe away the tears.
"So, Naru, I release you from your most recent promise. You don't have to give up on Keitaro completely, and you don't have to give me a clear run. OK?"
"OK. Th-thank you, Mutsumi."
"And now, Naru, will you release me from my promise? The one I made as a child, where I promised to give up on Keitaro completely?"
"Of course I..." Naru says, but then she stops.
"I'm sorry", she continues, "I just need a short while to think about this. I mean, it's a very big step. I know that I said he was an idiot, and that I hated him, but really I'm not sure. We have had some nice times together. He always spoils things in the end, but..."
"But Naru, if you cancel my promise, it doesn't mean that I get Keitaro, it just means that we have a fair competition! I'm sure he likes you!"
"I'm really sorry, Mutsumi. I promise I'll get back to you in a couple of days, when I've had time to think about this properly."
Ara! I can feel that too much emotion is going through my head, that my breath is coming in short gasps, that my grip on consciousness is loosening. I could cope with being back at square one, but this is worse. All the fears I had about how Naru would react when asked to cancel my promise, it seems they're all turning out to be well-founded. Even after I released Naru from her promise! It's too much! I slide from the bed, towards the floor and towards oblivion.
When I come to I am back in my own bedroom, tucked into the bed. Naru is sat in a chair next to the bed, and I can see that she has been crying again, and her face looks red, as if she is embarrassed.
"Hello, Mutsumi", she says. "Are you awake? I just want to apologise to you for what I said before. I'm sorry, I was a horrible person. You were able to cancel my promise, and I couldn't cancel yours. And because of that I made your illness worse. I feel really ashamed of myself. Even when I was a child, I was horrible then. You were happy with Keitaro then, until I came between you, and you never complained, or anything! Er, are you awake?"
"Yes I am. Don't worry, Na-chan, I can see that you aren't horrible at all. You're here for me now, that's what counts. And you've been there for me before."
"Thank you Mutsumi. I'll say now what I should have said before. Of course I release you from your childhood promise to give up on Keitaro. How can I not do for you what you willingly did for me?"
And now I am crying, but the tears are tears of joy and gratitude. Ara, there's a long way to go, still, but the biggest obstacle has been overcome. Now I sense that there really is a chance for me to find happiness with Kei-kun. But...
"Thank you Naru", I say, "but what made you change your mind? Has something happened while I've been unconscious?"
"Er, um, yes," she replies. "Actually quite a lot has happened. You've been unconscious for more than a day. The main thing is, er, Keitaro has had a talk with me, and he wants to have a word with you, after I've finished apologising. Is it OK if I go now and let him come in?"
"Of course, but .. a lot has happened, you say? This is all very mysterious, can you tell me what I've missed?"
"Keitaro will ..." she begins, but then starts sobbing again and runs out.
Now Keitaro is with me.
"Naru seemed very upset, can you tell me what that's about?" I ask.
"Er, well, yes," says Keitaro, scratching the back of his head. "Actually, it's ... you know when we decided to have that wedding, only it wasn't a real wedding?"
"Yes"
"And I said that you were going to make me the happiest man alive?"
"Er, yes."
"The doctor thought you would forget. But, never mind that, I've come to realise that when I said that, I actually meant it."
"Ara.."
"And when we were at the altar, up in the tree, with you by my side, I could sense the love and the trust, and the warmth, and the happiness in your eyes. And I knew that whatever else about the wedding might be fake, those feelings of yours were real. Nobody told you that it was a fake wedding. You thought that it was real, and you were ready to give your life to me, your entire heart and soul."
"That's true, Kei-kun, but you know that I was thinking like a child at the time."
"And you still do, don't you? You're still as sweet, and loving, and gentle, and caring, as you were when we were little, when you were my promise girl. And you still keep your promises, even when it hurts!"
"Ara, thank you, Kei-kun, for saying such nice things about me. When I'm with you, yes, I am still a child, happy and carefree. I get such a sweet, delicious feeling, like only a child can feel. Being with you is fun! And I love you, Kei-kun! I love you so much!"
"And I love you, Mu-chan! I just want to be with you forever! So, for real this time, will you make me the happiest man alive? Will you marry me?"
"Oh, yes! Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Yes!"
And he embraces me, and my happiness is perfect.
For a while, there's no need for words. Words would be out of place. Kisses say everything that needs to be said. But eventually Kei-kun gets up. He smiles, and bends down to give me one more kiss, and then he says
"I'd love to stay longer, but there's someone else wants to have a word with you, and I suppose we should let him. Your doctor is here, and would like to see his patient."
"Of course, show him in. But before you go, what about Naru? What should I say to her when I see her again?"
"Did she apologise to you?"
"Yes."
"Then there isn't any more that needs to be said. I've had a word with her. Actually, I've had strong words with her. When you were talking with her in the guest bedroom, I came to the open door and I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. She knows where I stand now."
"Ara, but we're still study buddies, aren't we? We still have to get to Tokyo University together, all three of us, like we promised? And we're still friends?"
"Er, yes", he says, "with all the excitement, I was almost forgetting about studying, but yes, all those things are true. We'll get along. Everything will work out all right, I'm sure! And now, I've kept the doctor waiting long enough. See you soon, Mu-chan!"
And with that, and one final kiss, he leaves the room.
Now, I wonder, what could Doctor Harusaki want with me?
"Hello, Mutsumi-san! Long time no see!"
"Hello, er, doctor Sakamoto? This is a surprise! What brings you all the way from Tokyo?"
"A couple of things, actually. First of all, your local doctor, doctor Harusaki, was sure that when you recovered from your reversion to childhood you would forget the episode. When he was proved wrong about that, he decided that he was out of his depth, and so he advised your parents to consult a specialist. They asked me to come straight away, and, given the generosity with which they have supported my research, it was the least I could do."
"I see. Thank you for coming doctor. Actually, though, Dr. Harusaki wasn't all that wrong. I did lose about ten seconds of my short term memories when I reverted."
"Hmm, how do you know about that?"
"Actually, my protectress told me. You remember that I told you about her?"
"Oh yes. You said that she was sure I would find a cure for your condition. She didn't happen to mention any formulas, did she? Any promising leads?"
"Are you not making progress?"
"Oh yes, Mutsumi-san, but at our present rate of progress it's likely to take years before we have a definitive cure. Three years is my best guess. In the meantime I have some new palliatives you might like to try. They'll help you to feel better, and they should get you on your feet in a day or two, but they won't cure you. Mutsumi-san, I want you to take it easy for the next three years. Don't over-exert yourself, and don't upset yourself."
"Ara, I have to try to get into Tokyo university this year! But, don't worry, Sakamoto-san. I've had so much practice, I'm sure I can pass the exam without over-exerting myself, and I won't get upset by my exam results, no matter what they might be."
"If you're sure .."
"Yes, but you said there were a couple of things that brought you here. What was the other thing?"
"On the phone, when your mother was asking me to come, she said something about a huge celebration that she wanted me to attend. She said that she'd aim to make it the biggest celebration in this island's history. But she didn't say what it was about. Do you know, Mutsumi-san?"
"Ara, I can guess. You know Keitaro, the boy who just a few moments ago asked you to come in and see me? Did he tell you that he had just proposed to me, and that I accepted?"
"No, he just told me that I could see you now. But I could tell he was excited about something. Presumably he will have told everyone else by now. Congratulations, Mutsumi-san! I am very happy for you!"
Later my father pops in to check up on me.
"Mother's up to her tricks, isn't she?" I ask.
"Indeed she is. You don't know the half of it. She thought it was a pity that we had this big wedding, and it wasn't real. So when she heard that Keitaro wanted to really propose to you, she had the notion that while everything was still here in place from the mock wedding it would be a shame not to make use of it. Most of the food for the reception had to be given away, because it wouldn't have kept, but almost everything else is still in place, ready to be used. So she's phoning all the pastors again, telling them that this time it's real."
"Again? Last time you mentioned that she'd tried to get a real pastor, you said it was a joke!"
"Oops. Sorry, Mu-chan. Actually, I'm going to make absolutely sure we have a real pastor this time, but, yes, she did try to get a real one for last time. Also, I found this newspaper clipping among her things, from the Japan Times ... 'according to Shukan Bunshun, at least 80 percent of the people delivering the wedding vows at Christian-style weddings in Japan are not actually clergymen, but impostors. More often than not, they are English teachers doing a well-paid weekend gig'. It seems that these weddings are still valid, as long as the registrar is a properly authorised marriage registrar."
"Ara! Don't tell me, the registrar at the fake wedding was a properly authorised registrar?"
"I won't tell you, Mu-chan. I'm sure you don't want to know. It doesn't matter anyway, because you never got as far as signing the register, and because in just a couple of days we're going to have a totally above-board wedding that nobody can doubt the validity of. I hope you don't mind everything happening so quickly."
"No, that's fine. But I'd like to know what Keitaro thinks about all this!"
"I think he'd like to see you again too, just for a short time, so you can have a word about it. But then you really must rest. Doctor Sakamoto's orders!"
"Kei-kun, I'm finding it hard to believe that this is all real. I'm afraid to pinch myself, in case I wake up. If it is a dream, I really don't want to wake from it."
"It's real, Mu-chan, believe me. But the speed at which your mother can arrange a wedding takes my breath away. If I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't believe it was possible. I phoned Hinata house, and it seems that Granny Hina has turned up there in a helicopter. Granny is arranging for the helicopter to ferry everyone over here. So, soon you'll be able to meet all my other tenants properly. And even my mother has been finally prised away from her sweet shop, and will be here along with my father."
"Ara, I was expecting something like a leisurely courtship, maybe a few dates, maybe a nice leisurely trip on a boating lake where we could get to know each other, just the two of us on a boat far from the shore with nobody to disturb us. Just the breeze, and the sunshine, and the soft lapping of the water against the side of the boat to keep us company."
"If you want a boating lake, we'll have a boating lake. Anything you want, love! But we can make it a part of our honeymoon, perhaps, instead of part of our courtship."
"You called me love, Kei-kun!"
"Er, anything wrong with that?"
"No, it sounds so sweet, coming from your lips! I love it! Because I love you!"
"I'm glad, love. Because I love you too, love."
And we kiss. And I know that it is real.
OK, to anyone who was hoping for a longer courtship, my apologies. I tried to write one, like I said I would, but it seemed to slow the pace of the plot down in my opinion. I might post it as a separate story when this one's finished, if anyone's interested. As things are, in this story, you can probably tell that the wedding is very fast approaching, but the story won't end with the wedding.
AntacticTiger and Trent Easton, I won't make the post-wedding into a separate story because it'll be tied in too closely with the pre-wedding. I know, perhaps everything is too much tied in with everything else already, and all this tying-together might make the story tricky to follow. It certainly makes parts of it tricky to write, but that's the way the muse is leading. What can I do? I can't say no to a muse..
TornadoReviewer. You were right that Naru wouldn't give up easily. But I wimped out and had the really dramatic confrontation between Naru and Keitaro take place offstage. Sorry! I hope your imagination will be able to fill in the gap with just the right amount of fire and explosions.